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Connect reading tools

These integrations are optional. Everyday card creation does not require them.

Yomitan and AnkiConnect (macOS and Windows)

Tsumu includes a built-in AnkiConnect-compatible server that allows 1-click card mining from browser-based popup dictionaries such as Yomitan.

Prerequisites

Before setting up the connection:

  1. Install Yomitan: Install the Yomitan browser extension from the official Yomitan website (available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge).
  2. Install Japanese dictionaries: Yomitan needs dictionary files imported to look up words and show definitions. If you are setting up Yomitan for the first time, follow TheMoeWay Yomichan / Yomitan Setup Guide to install recommended dictionaries (such as bilingual dictionaries like JMdict or Jitendex, pitch accent dictionaries, and frequency lists).
  3. Run Tsumu: Tsumu must be open so its local AnkiConnect server is active.

Configuration

Tsumu for macOS and Windows starts a local AnkiConnect-compatible service at http://127.0.0.1:8765 while the app is open.

  1. In Yomitan's settings, scroll to the Anki section and toggle Enable Anki integration on.
  2. Ensure the Server address is set to http://127.0.0.1:8765.
  3. Select the target Deck as Tsumu.
  4. Choose the Model:
    • For word cards: select Tsumu Word.
    • For sentence cards: select a model whose name includes sentence.
  5. Map the card fields:
    • Map Expression (or Word) to Word.
    • Map Sentence to Context sentence.
    • Other fields (reading, pitch, audio, and definition) can be left blank because Tsumu fills them automatically from its bundled databases and audio services.
  6. When reading in your browser, hover over a Japanese word and click Yomitan's green + button on the popup entry. If a word has multiple readings, Tsumu prompts you to pick the intended reading. This service is available on macOS and Windows.

ッツ Ebook Reader (macOS)

The macOS Tsumu sidebar links to ッツ Ebook Reader, a browser-based Japanese EPUB reader. Load a book and use Yomitan there as you would on a webpage. Allow the browser to open Tsumu when prompted. Yomitan mining requires Tsumu to be running on the Mac.

KOReader on a jailbroken Kindle

  1. Install the tsumu.koplugin folder from the Tsumu project in KOReader's plugins directory (on Kindle, /mnt/us/koreader/plugins/) and restart KOReader.
  2. On the Mac, open Settings → Sync Server → Start Server. Use a trusted local network: the server has no login and accepts requests from devices that can reach it.
  3. In KOReader, open More tools → Tsumu and enter the Mac's displayed IP address and port, usually 8080.
  4. Highlight text and choose Send to Tsumu. Short selections are placed in the Word field and longer ones in Sentence. Finish and save the card on the Mac, then stop the server.

The Mac and Kindle must be able to reach each other over the network. If sending fails, the highlight remains available in KOReader to send again.